Brian D. CRANE
CRANE, MARINOS, GOLD, SAGE, ROGHOLT, JAACKS, SHORT, SOMMERFIELD, SAGER
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 7/20/2011 at 02:00:10
Obituary - Brian Crane
The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Sunday, July 17, 2011
by John SKIPPERBrian Crane, creative entrepreneur, dies at 71
CHARLES CITY — North Iowa businessman Brian CRANE is being remembered today as a creative entrepreneur who sought to improve the world around him.
CRANE, 71, died Sunday afternoon at his home.
He had many business ventures in North Iowa for the past two decades.
Most recently, he owned Growth Properties LLC, a development company in Charles City and the Brick & Tile Building in Mason City.
"He was a man of vision," said Jean MARINOS, former mayor of Mason City who was a close personal friend. "He always had a sense of the bigger picture."
MARINOS and her husband, Jim, developed a friendship with CRANE and his wife, Pat, when CRANE bought the Brick & Tile Building in 2002, a transaction brokered by Jim MARINOS.
"He was always looking for ways to improve Mason City. He had concerns and a lot of ideas about downtown Mason City because he was vested in it," Jean MARINOS said.
"He always had ideas. Some of them would fly, some of them wouldn't, but he was always willing to try things new and different, always trying to improve on things."
Paul GOLD, a longtime friend and former business partner, said he will always remember CRANE for his humor and creativity.
CRANE started Dimensional Graphics in 1985 and he and GOLD were partners in the business for a few years.
"Everyone who knew Brian loved him," GOLD said. "He was always trying to make things work. It was just the creativity in him.
"Another thing about Brian — he had a story for every occasion and he loved to tell them. He was a dear friend and he will be dearly missed."
CRANE expressed his creative philosophy in a 2003 interview with the Globe Gazette.
"I've always liked to dream backwards to reality," he said. "I don't like to put any limits on my thinking. It allows the airing of all possibilities.
CRANE was born in Glendale, Calif., raised in South Dakota and was a music major at Dakota Wesley University in Mitchell, S.D. For awhile, he had a musical group, The Brian CRANE Quintet, in which he played trumpet and flugelhorn.
The CRANES moved to North Iowa in 1980.
He and three partners started Decal Specialties, a graphic design company that folded after a few years.
In 1985, CRANE and three other partners started Dimensional Graphics which is now operated by the GOLD family.
In 1989, CRANE moved to Charles City where he started Growth Properties LLC two years later.
In October 2002, he purchased the Brick & Tile Building in Mason City and talked about all the plans he had for it.
"We have to rise to the challenge of the times," he said. "If we don't we'll be a dinosaur."
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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Tuesday, July 19, 2011Obituary - Brian Crane
March 30, 1940 ~ July 17, 2011Brian D. CRANE, 71, of Charles City, died Sunday afternoon, July 17, 2011, at his home after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
A celebration of Brian's life will be at a later date. Per Brian's request his body was donated to the University of Iowa Hospital for medical research in hopes for a cure for cancer. Brian Donley CRANE was born March 30, 1940, in Glendale, California, the son of Delbert V. and Georgia Mae (SAGE) CRANE. He graduated from Lake Preston High School in 1958 and attended one year at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D. On July 11, 1959, he was united in marriage to Patricia ROGHOLT.
Brian was a true entrepreneur who enjoyed every aspect of his business life. Brian and Pat established Growth Properties 20 years ago and started their property portfolio. Prior to that Brian spent many years in the printing business dating back to the late 1960's in Rapid City, S.D., and eventually moving to Mason City, IA.
Brian believed in giving back to his communities and served on many boards. Some of which included: NIVC of Mason City, the Mason City YMCA, the original Hospice Board of Finances, KUNI Radio (Cedar Falls), Co-Chair of the Republican Party of Floyd County. He became a Mason and a Shriner by age 23.
Brian and Patricia were most proud of the scholarship fund they created for their Alma-Mater in Lake Preston, S.D. They established the LPHS Higher Education Foundation many years ago. Also, Brian was recognized for his involvement with the Charles City Excellence in Education Fund.
Brian's interests included: playing duplicate bridge (achieving Life Master in 1992), gardening, fishing, cooking, hosting dinner parties for family and friends, music (especially jazz).
Brian had an exceptional sense of humor and memory. Storytelling and jokes were available in any circumstance. would put a smile on your face with his stories.
Brian loved spending time with his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren any chance he had and loved having family and friends around.
Living family members include his wife, Patricia CRANE of Charles City; three daughters, Cheri (Dan) JAACKS of Toddeville, Melanie CRANE of Charles City and Michelle CRANE of Columbia, Mo; a sister Linda CRANE of Simi-Valley, Calif.; five grandchildren, Jacob JAACKS, Gram (Jennifer) SHORT, Brynn SHORT, Jennifer (Joel) SOMMERFIELD-SAGER and Shelby Lyn CRANE; 4 great grandchildren; Oliver, Adrian, Finneas and Addison; two special aunts "the Merdynes" and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The Hauser Funeral Home, 641-228-2323, in Charles City, is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com .
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011
Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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